This is the sandiest region of Fort Ord Public Lands. Bicycle riders tend to run the ridge trails after they have firmed up during and after winter rains. Best access is from the East Garrison Gate. A fine but underutilized equestrian area due to its well drained soils, absence of gravel and nice views of the Salinas Valley and other parts of Fort Ord Public Lands.
3-D map view from the North, South, East and West
Crescent Bluff Road: Gentle road running on the 160 foot contour. It provides views of the Salinas Valley before passing the Merrill Property and entering Barloy Canyon and oak forest. Most use occurs from persons accessing this road from The Bluffs subdivision. Bicycles will average 15 mph due to soft conditions more than slope.
Length 3.49 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Foot>Bicycle>Horse
Trail 22 - "Sandstone Ridge": Dramatic ridge single track trail with extreme exposure to the south. Good views of the MOUT site, Barloy Canyon, Mud Hen Lake and the ridge which supports trails 08 and 09. Trail 40 can be made out by the discerning eye. The trail ends precipitously on Crescent Bluff Rd. There is a "trail closed" sign there which can be ignored. Bicycles usually only ride down however you can 'ride' up but will have to push your bike up the lowest section of the trail. Bicycles will descent at speeds in excess of 20 mph in sections. Conversion of wide road to 'single track' is in process. Look at Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4 to see how the work is progressing.
Length 1.59 miles Black Diamond Multiuse trail Bicycles ride down trail, Bi-directional for horse and foot. Use: Bicycle>Horse>Foot
Trail 23: This "road" is really a sand wash filled with eroded material from the slopes above much like Trail 62 which it parallels. Most of the use of this trail is from wild game. Bicycles can not ride up this trail in the Dry Season and even must push bikes down slope at many locations when going from Trail 23 to Crescent Bluff Rd. Note: at fork to 24, Trail 24 is 0.11 miles away. Bicycles will descend and ascend very slowly. Needs sign at Trail 61 intersection and at spur to trail 24.
Length 1.30 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use for foot and horse: Horse>Foot>Bicycle
Trail 24: Ridge trail of firm sand with occasional soft sections. The southern exposure of this ridge is quite precipitous and affords good views of the Merrill Ranch Property and the ridges to the east of Engineer Canyon. Bicycles only ride down due to slope but bi-directional multiuse for foot and horse. Bicycles will descend at speeds in excess of 20 mph. Needs sign with trails 23, 25 and spur to 23.
Length 1.27 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use for foot and horse: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 25: This single track trail provides a nice view of the Salinas Valley. It is firm sand with occasional soft sections. Easier to ride bicycle down than up Bicycles will descend at speeds in excess of 15 mph
Length 0.94 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse.
Trail 60: Trail negotiates a steep exposed slope from the ridge trail 22 to Crescent Bluff Rd. Bicycles cannot be ridden up this trail, only pushed up therefore bicycle use is primarily to descend this trail. Ascent speeds are around 2 mph walking while 6 to 8 mph can be maintained on descent during the dry season. Equestrian and foot travel is bi-directional. This trail runs pretty close to the fall line in a number of locations therefore erosion may become more of an issue if traffic increases but right now it does not receive heavy traffic from any user community. Cyclists wishing to connect from Barloy Canyon Rd to Crescent Bluff Rd should use trail 22 unless they are "just curious." There are two odd structures made of welded steel tubing which look like they may have been the top of some kind of rotating observation tower. They are just west of the trail about the midway point. By the way, the map shows a second trail path in the mid section which balloons out to the west. That feature can be seen from across the canyon yet when you are actually on the trail, the use pattern directs you to the "straight" section.
Length 0.36 miles Black Diamond Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Horse>Foot>> Bicycle.
Trail 61: This single track descends into the drainage between 22 and the ridge to the south of 23.. The trail is becoming overgrown as there is little use occurring while the ground water is supporting relatively luxuriant plant growth. One half mile from Barloy Canyon Rd you will find a stretch of trail covered with blank cartridge casings and grenade fragments. Just before Trail 61 joins onto Trail 23 you will encounter a large sandy wash. The trail stays along the north side of this wash and then enters the forest for several yards before it emerges onto Trail 23. Bicycle descent speeds are 6 to 10 mph while ascent speeds are essentially walking since that is what cyclists will be doing a lot of the time.
Length 0.76 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Horse>Foot>Bicycle.
Trail 62: This trail is really a sandy wash now filled with eroded material from upslope areas. It is not well traveled by anyone and the primary users appear to be wild game. During the Dry Season it is not much fun for bicycles. Expect to push your bike most of the way up from Crescent Bluff Rd to 24 and the down slope trip won't be much better. Multiple "game trails" link 62 with 23 and one old military jeep road links 62 to 24 two thirds of the way up from Crescent Bluff Rd. This trail combined with 23 would make a nice loop for horses riders who want some isolation. Bicycles will descend and ascend very slowly.
Length 0.80 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional multiuse: Horse>Foot> Bicycle.
Trail 63: Firm sand single track which runs along a gas line right of way for a short distance.
Length 0.45 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse.
Trail 64: Firm sand single track. Poison Oak is encroaching on trail. Bicycles will descend at speeds in excess of 15 mph
Length 0.29 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
© Nick Mackenzie 2001-2002
Updated 10/30/06 12:16:18
